Abstract

For most part of the twentieth century, wind turbines stood as single units in the European countryside. These solitary giants provided electricity off-grid to small communities until power companies got involved and turned wind turbines into wind farms from the 1990s onwards. By 2023, wind power met up to 20% of electricity demand in Europe. How was this transition possible?tary giants provided electricity off-grid to small communities until power companies got involved and turned wind turbines into wind farms from the 1990s onwards. By 2023, wind power met up to 20% of electricity demand in Europe. How was this transition possible? This Darwin Humanities Seminar looks into the history of power companies and the ways in which they took investment decisions to pursue wind power in Europe. Whilst government incentives played a key role, there were other factors that drove power companies to explore and develop wind power. Starting with the energy trilemma, technology feasibility and, finally, the emergence of the green consumer. These factors would also ultimately make power companies change their traditional business model to access capital and develop wind power, whilst divesting from fossil-fuel electricity generation. Within thirty years, a new type of power company emerged, one that tried to balance profits and sustainability.

This seminar is a work in progress presentation by Mercedes Galindez, final year part-time PhD Candidate at the Faculty of History. Mercedes is funded by the Energy Policy Research Group at Judge Business School, and combines her academic career with a business development job in the professional services sector.